City, ancient Kush , northeastern Africa.
Situated on the eastern bank of the Nile River , north of modern Kab 016B; shiyyah, Sudan, it was the southern administrative centre for the kingdom of Kush, beginning 0441; 750 BC. After the sack of Napata ( 0441; 590), it became the capital of the kingdom. It included the region between the Nile and Atbara rivers, where the Meroitic language developed. It survived a Roman invasion but fell to Aksumite armies in the 4th century AD. The ruins of its temples and palaces still exist near Kab 016B; shiyyah.